Despite Trudeau repeating his pledge to bring more refugees to Canada throughout the federal election campaign, some polls show a majority of Canadians do not agree with his refugee resettlement plan.
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The government said health and security screening will take place overseas and once that’s complete, refugees will be flown to Toronto and Montreal, largely on chartered aircraft.
“We realized that we wanted to make sure it was done absolutely right to ensure that Canadians who have been incredibly open and enthusiastic about it remain as positive about welcoming these families as they possibly could be”, he told CBC.
The government had originally promised to welcome 25,000 in 2015.
The aim now is to have 10,000 of the refugees in Canada by the end of December, with the rest arriving in January and February.
“Our plan to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada will meet the commitment of a quick and successful resettlement while meeting the needs for security and health”, said Philpott. Watch free streaming video on the KIRO 7 mobile app and iPad app, and join us here on Facebook.
“We will not compromise the quality of the security work that must get done”, said Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. The country will, however, accommodate another 15,000 people by February next year.
But the large role first envisioned for the Canadian Forces, including potentially housing up to 13,000 refugees, has been scaled back.
While Canada’s refugee plan is focused primarily on families, women and children, government officials have acknowledged that gay men face intense persecution and will also give them priority status.
At that event, Paulson said that any potential refugees would undergo rigorous security checks.
The opposition Conservative Party said it was pleased Trudeau “had abandoned a timeline that was not workable”.
Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said military barracks are being prepared only as a precaution in the event that temporary accommodation is needed.
“I just wish that we can actually look at individuals, as people, who are running away from situations that are terrible and running away from terrorism, running away from the Syrian regime, and not look at them as an entity that we need to either support or protect, just look at every single one of them and try to help as much as we can”.
He predicted Syrians coming to Canada will include significant numbers of Christians living in Lebanon or Jordan but outside refugee camps, acknowledging concerns that Christians avoid the camps. Government-assisted refugees will be identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the government of Turkey.
The bulk of the refugees who will eventually come to Canada – about 16,000 – will be resettled in Ontario and Quebec.
$678 million: The estimated federal cost of the refugee program, not including help for provinces.
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“We have been working with all levels of government, stakeholders, non-governmental organizations and service providing organizations as we implement this significant, complex and compassionate humanitarian initiative”, he said.
